Over 100 Dogs Rescued From Arkansas Puppy Mill

Over 100 dogs and other animals have been rescued from an alleged puppy mill in Johnson County, Arkansas.

Over the last few months the Johnson County Sheriff's Department has been receiving complaints from concerned citizens who had bought puppies from a facility in Lamar, Johnson County. Complaints were lodged regarding sick puppies and seemingly inhumane conditions at the property. The Sheriff's Department asked for help from the Needy Paws Animal Shelter to obtain evidence necessary to build the case, and once it was apparent the charges could be brought, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was called on to assist in the seizure of animals from the property.

When the HSUS arrived on scene on Tuesday, over 100 dogs, 5 cats and 2 guinea-pigs were rescued from "horrific conditions". The dogs, mostly Shih Tzus and Chihuahuas, were being housed in filthy cages in trailers across the property. Some larger dogs were simply chained with no protection from the weather. Many of the dogs were so thin they were described as "emaciated", and many of them were suffering from skin and eye infections.

"These dogs were being kept not as beloved pets, but as cash crops - churning out litter after litter of puppies for the profit of the property owner," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of Emergency Services for The HSUS. "The animals on this property were in dire need of help - one dog was so matted that we had to cut him out of his cage."

After arrival at a nearby emergency shelter, the animals were checked by a team of veterinarians and will now be cared for by the HSUS and the United Animal Nations (UAN). Fourteen volunteers with UAN's Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) have traveled from Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and other parts of Arkansas to care for the rescued animals. PetSmart Charities also dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin'® vehicle to the scene in advance of the raid. The vehicle is stocked with $60,000 worth of crucial supplies, including dog food, wire crates, plastic carriers, bowls and leashes.

"The UAN volunteers have been working non-stop to help the dogs acclimate to their new surroundings and give them clean kennels, food, water and attention like they never experienced before," said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies. "They are quickly improving with the extraordinary care they are receiving."

This news story is independently sourced and PetPeoplesPlace.com does not specifically endorse products or services offered by any company referenced in this article, or benefit from any association with any companies referenced.

Added on May 31st, 2012These people are not breeders. They are sick and pure evil. I know Christina Yarrington and Lynn Burkett personally and I wish I never did. But no one can pick their parents or their sisters. These nasty creatures are my sisters and I would love to bash their heads in

Added on Oct 18th, 2009If a breeder cannot afford to provide humane conditions for breeding dogs, then they should not breed. I don't understand when mills became the inhumane way to breed puppies. A reputable breeder will usually breed once or twice a year and at his/her home and not inbreed the dogs and breed for health and certify their health, temperament, and personality. You think any of these dogs qualify? I don't think so. Mills are nothing more than torture chambers.

I don't understand people defending these hell holes. If you have ever been at a mill raid and the condition these animals are in, no one would every defend these "breeders." These animals are nothing more than a cash crop. And to top it off, the AKC continues to sell their worthless papers to these millers. This has nothing to do with people's freedoms. This has to do with cruelty, torture, and watching animals die because people want to make money. It is not right and never will be no matter how anyone justifies it in their mind. The only one we have to answer to ourselves in the end -- is ourselves. I don't see how these people can sleep at night. They are contributing nothing to better this world, just cause more misery.

Added on Oct 11th, 2009Skippy123 do you have banjo music playing in the background while you type; i.e., the theme from "Deliverance"?

Where do you get the nonsense you type? Are you an Amish puppymiller, or maybe just the regular ol' backwoods type of puppymiller?

HSUS is just trying to prevent animal cruelty - it's not trying to "close down most dog breeders" or say that you have to spend $250K on your kennel. Why are you so obsessed about kennels anyway - babbling on about the type of kennel "HSUS will approve", or being forced to have a kennel attendent [sic], or requiring "state of the art central air and heat"? Why don't you just bring your dog(s) inside and make them part of the family??? That could save you $250K right there (ha).

If pet ownership were illegal, there would be no HSUS - did that ever occur to you? Why would they want to do that?

The HSUS is just trying to get people to be humane to animals. This is a mainstream idea that will hopefully take hold in our society more and more as time goes on. Rock on HSUS!!! Keep taking down those puppy mills!!!

Added on Oct 9th, 2009THE HSUS HAS BROUGHT LAWS IN 24 STATES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO CLOSE DOWN ALL BREEDERS. I HAVE EXAMINED THE DATA ( along with friends in the national press core) that states the required state of the art central air and heat plus state of the art humitity control. The blantant disrepect of the Amish ways and customs of heating there own homes and barns. I am not illinformed. I have investigated the animal rights movement for two years and find it disturbing.

Added on Oct 9th, 2009Thank god you rescued those dogs. They should be with people who love them.Puppy mills should all be against the law evey were.Dogs do have feeling and cannot speak for themselfs just like a new born baby.Please keep up the good work. Thank you and god bless. Wanda

Added on Oct 9th, 2009Thank you thank you thank you!!! One more puppy mill down.....so many more to go!! Keep up the good work in the US of A and we will stay ever vigilant over here in Canada!! Together we can continue to save thousands more defensless animals.

Added on Oct 8th, 2009skippy123 - I don't usually respond to misinformed comments, but I couldn't let this go. You are so wrong about HSUS trying to shut down all breeders. This seizure in Arkansas was NOT a responsible breeder - it was the worst most of us had seen. This was a horrendous puppy mill - where dogs were kept in the most indescribable conditions. No animal should ever have to live their lives in small crates with little food, no clean water, exercise and vet care. These dogs lived in their own feces and urine as well as the feces and urine from the cages above; matted so badly they cried in pain when they moved. The nails on many of them curled into their pads. Eyes were glued closed with infection. Teeth would fall out if you touched them. One of the dogs had to be "cut" out of its cage because his feces matted hair had wrapped itself into the wiring.

HSUS is not about stopping reputable, responsible breeders. Their website is full of information on how to find a responsible breeder and what to look for when buying from a breeder.

Everyone is allowed their opinion but it should be a well educated informed opinion. Educate yourself on HSUS and other animal welfare groups - you are way off the mark!

Added on Oct 8th, 2009The HSUS has brought laws in 24 States that will close down most dog breeders. In other words it will cost every dog breeder $250,000 to built the KIND of kennel the HSUS will approve. They will also have to have a full time kennel attendent if they want to stay open. The HSUS hidden agenda is to shut down all animal breeders. Including food chain animal breeders (they are allready doing this) and to make all pet ownership illegal.

The only dog breeders that will remain standing are show dog breeders. Your days of stealing dogs from breeders are coming to a stop.

Added on Oct 8th, 2009The public is slowly becoming aware that better laws AND funds for enforcement are needed. If local cruelty laws continue to exempt USDA licensed facilities from prosecution and fines then there's little hope for ridding our states of puppy mills and other 'hobby' breeders who keep dogs in horrible conditions.

A prolonged effort to improve the lot of a dogs life in Texas recently failed because, of all people, Vets felt that existing laws were enough. Perhaps they were right. Maybe more monies for enforcement should have been worked for instead of more laws? I haven't researched the situation in Texas but I'm sure there are lessons to be learned there. That was only a defeat if the people of Texas let it go and continue to maintain the correctness of their approach without working to improve it.

Concerned humans ought to translate those concerns into something other than "We need more laws" and put it instead into researching the laws of their local states (and municipalities) first. Laws are sometimes needed but unfortunately there are often lawsalready on the books with no money to enforce them. We have animal cruelty laws here in Kansas but I still read Inspection Reports of breeders that make me want to scream.

Dogs will continue to suffer because the law and the power to enforce them simply never reaches them. Puppy mills are not illegal and until those who run them are hit financially and threatened socially by imprisonment there will be no economic incentive to change. My aching conscience will never change anything. A reformed breeder is what gets these things changed.

Breeders that do this should be thought of as sick and humane societies should try to get them help. Animal welfare depends on human consciousness so each of us should work to raise consciousness.

Ultimately we must love them all..regardless. It is our best hope for long term peace.

Added on Oct 8th, 2009These people need to be put in jail and prosecuted to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, the laws are not nearly tuff enough on these unspeakable people. Maybe they need to be putt in a cage where there is hardly enough room to turn around in and having to go to the restroom where you sleep may be a good start for these morons.